Forgotten Spaces 2014 - Deadline getting closer!

The blog below was written by Abi who is an ex TRC student who is currently volunteerng in the Art Department, working specifically with the Forgotten Spaces students:

The deadline to submit the work for the Forgotten Spaces competition is nearing once again and it has sure come around fast!  To briefly summarise, the Forgotten Spaces competition is a project conducted by Sheffield Hallam University in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The competition is aimed at schools and colleges to challenge themselves to choose a ‘forgotten space’ in their local area and come up with designs to transform it. This is a fantastic opportunity, especially for students who are interested in Architecture. Last year, Thomas Rotherham College entered the competition and did incredibly well where Team 1 claimed second prize, and Team 2 achieved first prize! The pressure is on this year!

TRspaces and TRenovation (such great team names!) are the two teams that have entered the competition this year. TRspaces includes the students Jenny, Steph, Chantelle and Megan and TRenovation includes Bradley, Ryan, Jamie and Heather. Many schools and colleges have applied this year so it is going to pretty intense!

On the 11^th of November 2013, there was a workshop that myself and Sarah attended with the students at the Sheffield Hallam University. A handful of the students who were on the BSC Architecture and Environmental Design and BSC in Architecture Technology lead the workshop. They explained the project with references to some amazing slides and images but, quickly moved on to thinking and redesigning a ‘forgotten space’ they had provided to get our students ideas flowing.

Team Trenovation working with Abi and a SHU Architecture student

Team TRSpaces working with a SHU Architecture student - possible the only photograph of Jenny NOT eating a biscuit!

They showed the students how it was not just the building itself that needed to be thought about, but the environment around it and how it would affect the area. They had to consider the light (natural and unnatural), the public and who would be using the space, what would it be used for, also the weather and the impact it is going to have. There were many points that needed to be thought about but the students were taken through a step by step design process. There was also a presentation made the chair of an organisation who transformed a 'Forgotten Space' close to Kelham Island in Sheffield, this showed the students the great potential in transforming a ‘forgotten space’ and how it can be achieved in real life, whilst providing references to his own projects. A big thank you to everyone who was a part of the workshop and for all their support!

Bothe TRC teams with the Sheffield Hallam Architecture students

 

Once the workshop came to an end, the students left vibrant and eager to start their designs, as their ideas were flowing rapidly and being incredibly creative. All these ideas have been brought forward in our meetings since the workshop and both teams have come up with amazing concepts for their ‘forgotten space’. The final submission date is on the 24^th of January 2014 so it is only around the corner! A lot of hard work has been put into the work so let’s keep it going on the last stretch and hopefully we can match last year, I’ve got a good feeling about this year! Well done to everyone so far.

 

Thanks Abi!